MSC informs that it places embargo on shipments of shark -related products as a measure to support the preservation of marine wildlife.
The shipping company states on its website:
”As part of MSC’s ongoing commitment to preserving the marine environment, the company has placed an embargo on any consignment containing shark fins or other shark-related products, with immediate effect. The World Wildlife Fund has informed us that consumption of shark-related products, which are a culinary delicacy in some countries, is threatening an already endangered species. To this end, they have appealed to all sea and air freight companies to ban all shipments immediately.”
”MSC is committed to operating a sustainable business. Together with other global ocean carriers, we are a firm supporter of initiatives driven by environmental associations for the protection of marine wildlife across the world. ”
According to The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, a quarter of the world’s sharks and rays are threatened with extinction with ray species found to be at a higher risk than sharks. Overfishing is the main threat to the species. Reported catches of sharks, rays and chimaeras peaked in 2003 and have been dominated by rays for the last 40 years. Actual catches are likely to be grossly under-reported.
The Indo-Pacific, particularly the Gulf of Thailand and the Mediterranean Sea are the two ‘hotspots’ where the depletion of sharks and rays is most dramatic.